Improvement in paper-folding machines



R. A. OONNELL. Paper-Folding Machinem Patented Oct. 16, 1877.

mfnesses NPETERSI FHOTD-UJ'HOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. OONNELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN EAP'ERFFOLDING MACHINES.

Specification formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 196,075 dated October 16,1877; application filed August 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. Gonnnnn, of Washington, in the county ofwashington and District of Columbia, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Folding Paper and other Substances;and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification. I

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved machine, showing the uppersurface of the table, the adjustable stops or guides for the sheets tobe folded, the side guide for keeping them in position, the raisedplatform upon which the sheets rest while being folded, the swingingfolder, and the cross-barfor pressing them down upon the raisedplatform. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 00, w of Fig. 1,showing the po sition of the adjustable stops or gages, and the sheetsto be folded, the raised platform, the swinging folder, both in itsnormal position and in the position to which it is brought in foldingthe sheets, the cross-bar for holding the sheets in position, the rodsextending downward therefrom, and the springs for re turning the bar toits highest position. Fig. 3 is atransverse section on line 3/ yof Fig.

. 1, showing a portion of the framework, the

cross-bar, and the mechanism for operating the same.

This invention relates to a machine for folding sheets of paper in-sucha manner as to leave, when folded, one narrow leaf and one wide one,alternating with each other, when bOlllld. into a book; and it consistsin the construction of such a machine as hereinafter described for thatpurpose set forth.

In constructing machines of this character, Imake a frame, A, of wood ormetal, and of any desired dimensions, and place .upon the top thereof atable or cover, A, upon one edge of which there is placed a side guide,A, against which the sheets of paper are placed when put in position forfolding, in order that the point at which the fold is made may be at aright angle to the edges or line of greatest length. Upon the table orcover there is placed a raised platform, B, upon which the sheets ofpaper to be folded are to be placed, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.This platform is placed at or near the center of the table A, and has byits side a swinging folder, 0, which may be hinged to its edge, or itmay be pivoted to the jaws which guide the cross bar, soon to bedescribed. This swinging folder is shown in two positions in Fig. 2-theone in which it is represented as being alongside of the raised platformbeing the one in which it is placed when the sheets of paper are placedupon it, the other, in which it is shown as folded over the raisedplatform, being the one to which it is brought in the act of folding thesheets. The movements of this folder may be effected in various ways,the most obvious one being by the use of a pin or handle, 0, inserted inone of its ends.

For holding the sheets of paper in position while being folded, thereare placed upon the table and firmly secured thereto stands or jaws D D,they being far enough apart to admit of there being placed between them,in a direction transverse to the greatest length of the table, across-bar, E, the outer ends of which are secured to vertical rods F F,which pass down through the table A, and are secured to a bar, G, whichextends across the machine, from one to the other. Upon the upper endsof the rods F F springs H H are placed, their lower ends resting uponthe table, while their upper ends press against the under side of thecross-bar E. Extending downward from bar G is a rod, I, the lower end ofwhich is secured to a treadle, J, one end of which is made to pass intoa mortise formed in the frame A, while its other end is left free tomove up and down, so that as the sheets of paper are placed upon theraised platform B and the swinging folder 0, the bar E may be broughtdown by placing the foot upon the treadle J, and thus said sheets beheld in position while being folded.

In order that the sheets folded upon this machine may have one leafwider than another, as is required in folding sheets of paper forinvoice-books, scrap and some other books, there is placed upon theupper surface of table A two adjustable stops or guides, K K, which maybe of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or

any other suitable form that will permit the ends of the sheets of paperto rest against them when ready to be folded, and will determine thepositions of such sheets in such amanner that when folded each sheetshall present one wide and one narrow leaf, so that when bound into abook for preserving in voices or for other purposes, the wide leaf maybe used for securing the bill or invoice thereto, and the narrow one forkeeping the account, or for any remarks that may be required, and willalso compensate for the thickness of the sheet pasted on the wide leaf.It is necessary that books of this character should have varying widthof leaves, and hence the stops or guides K K are made adjustable, sothat they may be varied as to their distances from the folding point;and in order that they may be held in their adjusted positions, bolts LL are secured to the table A, and pass up through a slot in theadjustable stops, and have nuts upon their projecting ends, which holdthe stops when screwed down upon them.

Having thus described my invention, what whereby sheets of paper may beheld in position and folded in sucha manner that one of their leaveswill be wider or longer than the gther, substantially as and for thepurpose set orth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT A. CONNELL.

Witnesses FRANK MILLER, A. 1). STIDHAM.

